How do you align the 1099 and 1096 forms when printing in Quickbooks desktop?

Thank you! I finally was able to get things figured out. Some how my default PDF viewer had been changed to something other than Adobe. Once I fixed that, I was able to adjust the alignment in the printing process and print my forms. 

I appreciate the detailed explanation and screen shots in aligning the 1099 forms. However I do not see a Forms or 1099/1096 forms in printer setup. Would you be able to point me in the right direction? to find the tool for alignment?

Thanks for visiting us here today, @Admin1509.

I'll walk you through the steps on how to see the form from the printer set up.

Here are the easy steps:

1. Go to the File menu at the top.
2. Choose Printer Setup.
3. Tap the Form Name drop-down arrow and scroll up.
4. Tick Align button and make the adjustment.
5. Click OK twice to save the changes. See the attached images below.

You can check out this article for details about printing 1099: How do I print my 1099 forms?

If you need help with other tasks in QBDT, you can browse for specific topics here and look for responses that fit your concern.

Get back to me if you still have questions or concerns with 1099 forms. I’m more than happy to assist further. Have a great day ahead.

I'm having issue to print 1099-NEC. If the top form is aligned the bottom form is not. It seems like the template needs a little more space between the two forms to print them both correctly. I hope someone can help!

Hello there, CPA888

You can troubleshoot your printer settings to align data in your 1099s. To start with, let's ensure that downloaded the latest release version of QuickBooks Desktop. Then, download the latest payroll tax table. 

To adjust the alignment, you can follow the steps provided by my colleague. For more details, you can use this reference: Align forms for continuous-feed (dot matrix) printers.

Keep me posted on how this works. You take care and have a great day!

Hi,

I use QB accountant for 2020 and 2021.

In the instruction:

4. Select Align.

    For business forms: Select a template to use for alignment, then select OK.

5. Select Coarse, then OK on the Do Not Adjust Your Printer pop-up message to print a sample form.

There is no option for select a template. And I can't find select coarse.

I can help you resolved this concern so you can print the form 1099-NEC successfully, @CPA888.

Besides updating your software and tax table to their latest release, you’ll want to make sure your company file is error-free. This way, you'll have uninterrupted access to your payroll and other services.

You can utilize the QuickBooks Verify and Rebuild tool to fix data concerns found within the program. Let me show you how:

1. First, choose Window and then select Close All.
2. Go to the File menu, and then click on the option of Utilities.
3. Select the option of Rebuild Data.
4. Follow the onscreen instruction to back up your data.
5. When the tool finishes, select OK.
6. Navigate to the File menu, then hover over Utilities.
7. Click Verify Data and select Rebuild Now once QuickBooks finds an issue with your company file.
   
   

Please know that you'll need to log in to your QuickBooks Desktop Accountant account using the single-user mode when performing this process.

In case you’re still having an issue with printing, you can follow the recommended steps in this article here to start troubleshooting.

We'll be happy to help if you need any further assistance with printing or anything else. Just leave us a message, and we'll make sure to get back a soon as possible. Have a great day!

I have followed all the steps as shown but the second page on the 1099-NEC form is still not being aligned.  It sits at least two lines too high on the second page of the form. 

How do we get this to print where I can see the names and values in the right box on the second form?

I appreciate the steps that you've taken to get this alignment issue sorted out, @BNT.

I've got other troubleshooting steps to provide to help fix the alignment of your 1099-NEC form so you can print it successfully.

Let's utilize the QuickBooks Desktop Tool Hub. This tool can identify and resolve program-related issues in the system like the one that you've encountered. 

To do that:

1. Close QuickBooks.
2. We recommend you download the most recent version (1.4.0.0) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub. Save the file somewhere you can easily find it (like your Downloads folder or your Windows desktop).
3. Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
4. Follow the on-screen steps to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
5. When the install finishes, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.

For complete details on how to perform this process together with some visual reference, please see the link attached: Fix common problems and errors with the QuickBooks Desktop Tool Hub.

However, if the problem continues after performing this procedure, I recommend contacting our Customer Care Team. They have the tools available to securely remote into your computer and verify the root cause of this matter.

I've included the steps to contact support below:

1. Open QuickBooks. 

2. From the Help menu, choose QuickBooks Desktop Help. 

3. Type Contact Us in the search box. Then, click on Contact Us at the bottom. 

4. Select the way you wish to connect with support (Chat, Call back, Etc.).

Feel free to let me know if you have further questions or concerns. You can reach out to the Community any time. Take care!

Does anyone have a response on the alignment for the 1099-NEC?  I just did this via QB Online and it also does not work.

I appreciate you for coming back and to confirm that the issue about the 1099-NEC alignment also does not work in QuickBooks Online version.

Yes, the provided troubleshooting steps above are for fixing the alignment of the 1099-NEC in QuickBooks Desktop. However, if the issue continues to occur, I recommend contacting our QuickBooks Desktop Support Team. They have the tools to check your account and investigate the cause of the issue. Please follow the steps shared by BettyJaneB on how to reach them.

On the other hand, I suggest using another updated-supported browser when creating and filing 1099. This way, you're able to verify if the current one you're using has issues. 

If the issue persists, you can go to the Fine-tune alignment page so you can make any changes on the lines or do horizontal and vertical adjustments to the form alignment. Let me guide you through the steps:

1. Click the Expenses menu then go to the Vendors tab.
2. Select Prepare 1099s, and click on Let's get started/Continue your 1099s.
3. Review or enter the company name and address and the Tax ID then select Next.
4. Choose the box for payment types you made and the expense account you use for these payments then select Next.
5. Review your contractor's information and select Next.
6. Select Finish preparing 1099s.
7. Select Print and mail.
8. Go through the steps in the Select a form type and print a sample page, then select No, it doesn't line up. This option will direct you to the Fine-tune alignment page where you can make horizontal and vertical adjustments to the form alignment.
9. Go through the steps in the Select a form type and print page. Once the form is aligned, click Next. 
10. Click Done.

For additional information, I'm adding this article for more guidance: Create and file 1099s using QuickBooks Online.

You might also want to read this article to learn more about 1099-NEC filing: Set up QuickBooks for the 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms.

Please feel free to reach back out if there's anything else you need help with concerning 1099. I'm always here to help.

I just spent an hour on a chat with a QuickBooks rep with this exact problem, only to be told that I'd need to spend $199 to have them fix it!  When I declined that option, I was given a link to this site.  I would think that since there's no solution here, QuickBooks wouldn't be so quick to send this to everyone that is having issues!

I have the same issue and just spent nearly an hour in a chat with QuickBooks only to be told that I would need to spend $199 to have them fix it.  The other option they gave was a link to this site.

Were you able to find a solution? I'm having the same problems.

I have discovered a seamless work-around for this unforgivable issue. 

Note: I AM USING QB DESKTOP, BUT THE SOLUTION CAN BE APPLIED TO PRINTING FROM THE ONLINE VERSION OF QUICKBOOKS, AS WELL.

1. Save your 1099s as a PDF file...

    a) Follow all steps for printing your 1099s, as normal. When you have finally navigated your way through the "Print 1099s" obstacle course and see the "Print 1099" button on the popup menu, click on it.

    b) When the print dialogue box opens, select the PRINTER drop down menu and select "Adobe PDF..."

    c) Save the file to an easy-access location on your computer.

2. Print your 1099s...

    a) Open the PDF file you just saved

    b) Select File-> Print, or Ctrl+P

    c) In the Print dialogue box, under Page Sizing and Handling, SELECT CUSTOM

    d) Change percentage to 102%

    e) Print ONLY Page 1. Examine your copy. If it didn't print quite right, continue to adjust the CUSTOM percentage as necessary—until it prints correctly.

    f) Once you have found the custom percentage that adequately corrects alignment issues, print all pages of your 1099 PDF File

4. Pour a glass of wine, as you surely deserve one after spending ridiculous amounts of time trying to solve a problem that should have been corrected LAST YEAR when Quickbooks first became aware of the issue.

I HAVE DISCOVERED A SEAMLESS WORKAROUND FOR THIS UNFORGIVABLE ISSUE:

*Note: I am using Quickbooks Desktop, but this solution will work for online users, as well.

1. SAVE YOUR 1099s as a PDF...

    a) Navigate your way through the "Print/File 1099s" obstacle course, as you normally would, to print your 1099s.

    b) When you finally reach the "Print 1099" button which will open the printer dialogue box, click it.

    c) In the printer dialogue box under Settings, change the printer name (by selecting the drop down menu next to "Printer name") to "Adobe PDF..."

    d) Save the file to an easy-access location on your printer, or wherever you will remember to look for it.

2. PRINT YOUR 1099s

    a) Open the PDF file you just saved.

    b) Select File-> Print, or Ctrl+P

    c) In the printer dialogue box, under "Page Sizing and Handling", Select "Custom".

    d) Change the custom percentage to 102%

    e) Change Pages to Custom -> 1 (to print a sample page)

    f) Examine your copy. If everything is aligned perfectly, follow steps 2-a through 2-d and print all of your 1099s

    g) If there are still alignment issues, adjust the "Custom" percentage in the "Page Sizing and Handling" section of the print dialogue box until you find just the right adjustment.

3. Pour a glass of wine, as you surely deserve one after spending ridiculous amounts of time trying to solve a problem that should have been corrected over a year ago when quickbooks was first made aware of the issue.

Regretfully I have been frustrated with this issue for a number of years now and Inuit has shown NO interest in resolving the issue of the alignment of the bottom 1099 - a Customer Care rep recently advised me to convert to QBs Online or have Inuit E-file them for me.  NOT Good enough......  I print one form 1099 per page voiding the bottom one which is time consuming and frustrating as I am forced to finally print ALL the 1099s on blank paper to generate the 1096 for the correct amount.  Maybe one day Intuit will look at basic issues rather than come out with "new" features that really only help a handful of users in most cases.  For myself and many of my clients there is really not changes that they utilize between say QBs 2015 and 2021 BUT they are forced to "upgrade" every three years....

Does this also apply to the new 1099-NEC?

Hello, HCQuick1515.

I'd like to give some details on the 1099-NEC alignment and how you can tune and print it properly. 

Yes, the alignment applies to the new and current 1099-NEC form in QuickBooks Desktop. If you're having issues with the alignment, you would want to tweak the printing settings and ensure they print properly. Here's how: 

1. Click on File, then select Printer Setup.
2. Set Form Name to 1099s/1096.
3. Set the correct Printer Type.
4. Click the Align button and enter the correct alignment values. 
5. Click OK. 

If there are any formatting changes to the 1099-NEC or any payroll forms, our Payroll Compliance team will work on the implementation and role out an update. This ensure that you're able to print the forms correctly and file them without any issues. 

References about printing and aligning your 1099 forms can be found here: 

• Fix print alignment of continuous-feed printers
• How do I print my 1099 forms?

Do you need to customize a specific report to see your sales, expenses and other financial data? This article can guide you through the process: Customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop. 

I'd be happy to give some details again if you have questions on other tax forms. If you also have other concerns, please add them to your reply or post. I'm always here to help. 

QuickBooks alignment keeps shutting down my files and I can't get them to align. This is really unacceptable!

Hi @Carol Garner,

Let's get this sorted out so you can align your 1099 forms without having issues.

It's possible that your company file is damaged that's why it's shutting down when aligning forms. To get this fixed, let's run the Quick Fix from the QuickBooks Tool Hub. It'll run a quick repair on your program. Here's how:

1. Close your QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Downloaded the most recent version of the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
3. Open the downloaded file and install it.
4. Once done, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.
5. From the QuickBooks Tool Hub, select Program Problems.
6. Select Quick Fix my Program.
7. Start QuickBooks Desktop and open your data file.

If you get the same result, you can check out this article for more troubleshooting steps: Solutions for when QuickBooks has stopped working.

Once it's fixed, you can now continue creating and printing your 1099 forms.

Our doors are always open to help you again if you need further assistance printing 1099 forms. I've got your back, @Carol Garner.

Carol,

This is happening to me too. Using QB 2020. Have clients using other versions. Haven't tried them yet.

I tried both 2020 and 2021 desktop and it still doesn't work.